Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
(Also known as King Day, MLK Day, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed next on Monday, January 20th, 2025 (38 days from today).
Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of January to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. He is best known for his campaigns to end racism on public transport and for racial equality in the United States.
History of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Martin Luther King was a civil rights activist and plays an important role. He was a leader in the movement to end apartheid in the United States. The "I Have A Dream" speech is the most famous speech of him. He was a supporter of nonviolent protest and became the youngest person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968.
In 1968, shortly after Martin Luther King died, a campaign was started to make his birthday a holiday in his honor. After the first bill was introduced, unions led the campaign for the federal holiday. It was endorsed in 1976. After being backed from Stevie Wonder, a musician with the single "Happy Birthday" and a petition with six million signatures, the bill became law in 1983. Martin Luther King's Day was first celebrated in 1986. In 1990, Martin Luther King Jr/Wyoming Equality Day was designated as a legal holiday by the Wyoming legislature.
Martin Luther King Day is a public holiday, however, there is some different names in some areas. Non-essential Government agencies are also closed, as are many corporations. Some schools and colleges are closed but others remain open and teach their students about the life and work of Martin Luther King.
Small businesses, such as grocery stores and restaurants tend to stay open, although more and more people are choosing to close on this day. Instead, some make up for it by opening up on Washington's Birthday. Recent federal law encourages Americans to spend some of their time on Martin Luther King Day as volunteers in civic action groups. Public transport systems may or may not operate on their regular schedule.
How to hold Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Day is a relatively new holiday and has little history about it. This is considered a day that promotes equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their background. Some educational institutions mark this day by teaching their pupils or students about the work of Martin Luther King and the struggle against racism and racism. In recent years, federal law has encouraged Americans to spend some time on this day as volunteers in civic action groups.
Martin Luther King Day, also known as Martin Luther King's birthday and Martin Luther King Jr Day, is combined with other dates in different states. For example, it is associated with Civil Rights Day in Arizona and New Hampshire, while it is celebrated with Human Rights Day in Idaho. This is also the date associated with Robert E. Lee's birthday in some states. This day is known as Wyoming Equality Day in the state of Wyoming.
Observed
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has been observed the third Monday in January.Dates
Monday, January 16th, 2023
Monday, January 15th, 2024
Monday, January 20th, 2025
Monday, January 19th, 2026
Monday, January 18th, 2027